If we look at WebKit, And OpenCV and i think OpenGL , the software is really a complement to the real business and are less hard to develop than the main produc

If we look at WebKit, And OpenCV and i think OpenGL , the software is really a complement to the real business and are less hard to develop than the main products.Also they are all in the API business - where developers demand open source and have enough power . As for android - Again it was a strategic necessity for Google, since it needed that distribution point for it's huge ad business. Operating systems are a winner takes all business and the most effective, lowest risk strategy to get there was open sourcing, even though it's kind of a loss leader. And even with only partially open-sourcing android , Google is at constant risk of losing control of android. The situation in FPGA is different - if altera opens the tool, xilinx and other companies will probably use it , and we'll probably see multiple companies compete on the business.